Paradise Cove
Paradise Cove Campground sits near Lake Isabella in the beautiful Sequoia National Forest. The 11,000-acre lake marks the division between the Upper and Lower Kern Rivers.
More like this: reservable in California · big rigs in California · pets allowed in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
active
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 51 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
50 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
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Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 40 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
The campground has 46 sites that are divided into two sections. The upper section has back-in camp sites, and the lower section has side-by-side parking. All camp sites have a view of the lake.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | Year Round to November |
| Forest | Sequoia National Forest |
| Booking | This site can be reserved by calling Toll Free 1-877-444-6777 (International 518-885-3639 or TDD 877-833-6777) or on-line at Paradise Cove, Sequoia National Forest - Recreation.gov. |
| Fees | Campsite fees range from $34/night for single unit, $ $8/night for extra vehicle. RV Dump station available with at fee of $20 per use. |
| Rules | No shoreline camping allowed. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Bakersfield, California, take Highway 178 east to the town of Lake Isabella. Staying on 178 east, travel approximately 3 miles to Paradise Cove Campground.
| Coordinates | 35.6496° N, 118.4270° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireCyrus
3 mi from the campground · 543 acres · 95% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 1.8 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Triple Crown Outfitters ↗ | 29.7 mi |
| RV sales & service | Lindustries RV Service ↗ | 41.3 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
I Tested 1 Star Camping | Paradise Cove Lake Isabella, CA
Worth a stop
The campground provides a great base for day trips to the Trail of a Hundred Giants and numerous Sequoia groves in the Giant Sequoia National Monument. You cannot access Sequoia National Park with a day trip. The Giant Sequoia Mercantile offers a wide variety of books, maps, gifts, local art, camping supplies and other merchandise.
- 1.3 miKissack Cove Day Use ↗Day use
- 2.3 miStine Cove Fishing Site ↗Fishing site
- 3.5 miTillie Creek Launch Ramp Boating Site ↗Boat launch
- 3.7 miCyrus Canyon Shooting Range ↗OHV / range
- 4 miCyrus Canyon Ohv Park ↗OHV / range
- 7.8 mi
Trails nearby
- 2.9 miIsabella Peak Lookout0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3 miCoso Mine Loop3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3 miVista del Lago1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 4.5 miWillow Gulch ↗8.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
Sequoia National Forest begins about 2.6 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 2.6 miSequoia National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,160,053 acres
- 11.2 miKiavah Wilderness ↗Wilderness · BLM/FS · 86,245 acres
- 12.4 miBright Star Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Bureau of Land Management · 8,191 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
Natural features
The Sequoia National Forest, located at the southern end of the Sierra Nevada in central California, takes its name from the giant sequoia, the world's largest tree, which grows in more than 30 groves on the Forest's lower slopes. The Forest comprises about 1.1 million acres, and elevations range from about 1,000 to 12,000 feet creating precipitous canyons and mountain streams with spectacular waterfalls such as Salmon Creek Falls and Grizzly Falls.
Recreation
This year-round campground is near Lake Isabella, one of California's largest reservoirs. Water activities such as swimming, water skiing and wind surfing are popular. The lake is known for trout fishing during the colder months. Other species include black and white crappie, bluegill, catfish and largemouth bass.
Guidebooks for Sequoia National Forest and California
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Paradise Cove?
Sites at Paradise Cove are reservable on Recreation.gov. This site can be reserved by calling Toll Free 1-877-444-6777 (International 518-885-3639 or TDD 877-833-6777) or on-line at Paradise Cove, Sequoia National Forest - Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Paradise Cove?
Campsite fees range from $34/night for single unit, $ $8/night for extra vehicle. RV Dump station available with at fee of $20 per use.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Paradise Cove?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Paradise Cove open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season Year Round to November.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Paradise Cove have?
51 sites, including 51 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Paradise Cove?
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are pets allowed at Paradise Cove?
Yes, pets are allowed at Paradise Cove. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Paradise Cove?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. No shoreline camping allowed.
Source: Fire nearby
Is there cell service at Paradise Cove?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Paradise Cove?
This year-round campground is near Lake Isabella, one of California's largest reservoirs. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Paradise Cove is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are South Fork Rec (0.8 mi, first-come), Old Isabella (1.7 mi, first-come), and Auxiliary Dam (2.1 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby